First Road Trip checklist ...

[zboy59]

Okay.
I'm preparing for my first road trip in an '86 PT40.
We've fixed every little nuance from lights to water filters in the "house", and
the overall engine fluids stuff has been checked.
There are a couple things I need to know how to do:
* I have some crud in my hot water heater which shows up after draining and
refills. I'm still not exactly sure where the water heater IS, let alone where a
drain valve for it is.
* I know that I should bleed my fuel filter of sediment/water and the air
chambers at the four corners ... how and when should I do the latter ?
* What else should be "DOH" checks that I do other than tire pressure before I
roll out ?
I know that the thing that always gets you is the one thing you didn't check.
What short list would those things be ?

[Light Ltenergy@...]

Hello,

I don't know much, but did want to pass along this... our water heater is under
our bed. We needed a new part for it awhile back and found, the water filter
system, etc under there.

GOOD luck with you last "fixes" before you take off. And have a wonderful and
safe Bird Adventure!

hugs, Light

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
>
> Okay.
> I'm preparing for my first road trip in an '86 PT40.
> We've fixed every little nuance from lights to water filters in the "house",
and the overall engine fluids stuff has been checked.
> There are a couple things I need to know how to do:
> * I have some crud in my hot water heater which shows up after draining and
refills. I'm still not exactly sure where the water heater IS, let alone where a
drain valve for it is.
> * I know that I should bleed my fuel filter of sediment/water and the air
chambers at the four corners ... how and when should I do the latter ?
> * What else should be "DOH" checks that I do other than tire pressure before I
roll out ?
> I know that the thing that always gets you is the one thing you didn't check.
What short list would those things be ?
>

[mbulriss]

Hello -

The early and mid-80 models usually have the hot water heater built in under the
rear shirt closet on the driver's side. An access hatch in the front facia of
the inner closet usually allows you to see the heater and reach a drain valve.
To work on it usually requires dismantling the inner closet. NOT a good thing.

I am not sure what you are calling "the air chambers at the four corners". If
you are talking about air brake chambers, no, do not mess with those air
chambers. If you are talking about draining the main air reservoir tanks, there
are usually two at about mid-ship under the chassis, high up over the bays, and
one up front around the front axle. They are a good arm stretch to reach from
below but they have 1/4 turn drain valves on their bottoms like the fuel tank
does. Frankly, I have never gotten much of anything out of mine on my 83 PT40
or my 91 WB40. PLEASE make darn sure you have the chassis securely blocked up
before crawling around under your Bird, especially if playing with the air
system. We dislike having to place "In Memoriam" front pages on the forum web
site!

Other good checks, other than all fluids, belts and tires, include battery water
levels, cable ends and charging system. Gen set ready to go? Battery chargers
working? You'll need those both for dry camping and getting home when the
alternators quit.


FYI, General protocol on this forum is to sign posts with a name, location and
year/model (which you had in your question).

Welcome to the forum and be sure to send in travel pictures for Bird of the
Week!

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX - home again at last

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
>
> Okay.
> I'm preparing for my first road trip in an '86 PT40.
> We've fixed every little nuance from lights to water filters in the "house",
and the overall engine fluids stuff has been checked.
> There are a couple things I need to know how to do:
> * I have some crud in my hot water heater which shows up after draining and
refills. I'm still not exactly sure where the water heater IS, let alone where a
drain valve for it is.
> * I know that I should bleed my fuel filter of sediment/water and the air
chambers at the four corners ... how and when should I do the latter ?
> * What else should be "DOH" checks that I do other than tire pressure before I
roll out ?
> I know that the thing that always gets you is the one thing you didn't check.
What short list would those things be ?
>

[zboy59]

FOUND IT.

Rear drivers side corner in the bottom of the behind-the-bed cabinet. Took some
looking ... how fast do these reheat anyway ?

Has anyone tried upgrading to a faster or on-demand unit ?


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Light Ltenergy@..."
wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I don't know much, but did want to pass along this... our water heater is
under our bed. We needed a new part for it awhile back and found, the water
filter system, etc under there.
>
> GOOD luck with you last "fixes" before you take off. And have a wonderful and
safe Bird Adventure!
>
> hugs, Light
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
> >
> > Okay.
> > I'm preparing for my first road trip in an '86 PT40.
> > We've fixed every little nuance from lights to water filters in the "house",
and the overall engine fluids stuff has been checked.
> > There are a couple things I need to know how to do:
> > * I have some crud in my hot water heater which shows up after draining and
refills. I'm still not exactly sure where the water heater IS, let alone where a
drain valve for it is.
> > * I know that I should bleed my fuel filter of sediment/water and the air
chambers at the four corners ... how and when should I do the latter ?
> > * What else should be "DOH" checks that I do other than tire pressure before
I roll out ?
> > I know that the thing that always gets you is the one thing you didn't
check. What short list would those things be ?
> >
>

[mbulriss]

Sounds like it was right in the area were I suggested to you in response #46843.
Most all the 80s PT model water heaters are there.

As for your re-heat question, my 83 and my 91 both were ready to take showers in
about 20 minutes or so after turning them on, so I had no complaints. As I
recall, Bob Lawrence added an on-demand unit (propane fired?) in his and
documented it in the Photos section. You can try searching there.

As I suggested in my prior response, a generally accepted courtesy to the other
members on this forum is to sign each post with a name, location and year/model
so that questions can be more accurately focused. This has been a member-driven
request and you will typically get more responses with a signature.

Thanks,

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
>
> FOUND IT.
>
> Rear drivers side corner in the bottom of the behind-the-bed cabinet. Took
some looking ... how fast do these reheat anyway ?
>
> Has anyone tried upgrading to a faster or on-demand unit ?
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Light Ltenergy@"
wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I don't know much, but did want to pass along this... our water heater is
under our bed. We needed a new part for it awhile back and found, the water
filter system, etc under there.
> >
> > GOOD luck with you last "fixes" before you take off. And have a wonderful
and safe Bird Adventure!
> >
> > hugs, Light
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
> > >
> > > Okay.
> > > I'm preparing for my first road trip in an '86 PT40.
> > > We've fixed every little nuance from lights to water filters in the
"house", and the overall engine fluids stuff has been checked.
> > > There are a couple things I need to know how to do:
> > > * I have some crud in my hot water heater which shows up after draining
and refills. I'm still not exactly sure where the water heater IS, let alone
where a drain valve for it is.
> > > * I know that I should bleed my fuel filter of sediment/water and the air
chambers at the four corners ... how and when should I do the latter ?
> > > * What else should be "DOH" checks that I do other than tire pressure
before I roll out ?
> > > I know that the thing that always gets you is the one thing you didn't
check. What short list would those things be ?
> > >
> >
>